Pallet construction with wire strap stringer ties



D. V. TRENT PALLET CONSTRUCTION WITH WIRE STRAP STRINGER TIES April 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 15, 1957 D. V. TRENT A ril 5, 1960 PALLET CONSTRUCTION WITH WIRE STRAP STRINGEIR TIES Filed May 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W /W/m 7 2/272 for:

2,931,610 PALLET coNsrnucrroN WITH WIRE STRAP STRINGER TIES Daniel V. Trent, La Porte, Ind. assignor to International Harvester Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 15, 1957, Serial No. 659,328

1; Claim. c1. z4s-' '-.12o

This invention relates to a pallet construction. More specifically, the invention relates to an improvement in connecting the baseboard and deckboard of a pallet to opposite ends of separating stringers connected between said aforementioned components.

Pallets have found extensive use in the industry for transporting uniform loads from one destination to another. During shipment, these pallets are generally subjected to rough handling and a survey of pallet repairs has revealed that the most frequent failure is the parting of theouter deckboard and baseboard from the connectingstringers This may occur during the handling of the pallet by a forlg type lift truclg or it may frequently occur, during truck or railway car transit. Attempts have been made to correct this weakness by nailing a steel band to the baseboard, over the end of the stringers and onto the face of the outer deckboard. However, with this type of design, proper tension cannot be maintained on the fastening and usually the bands Willcatch on loads with resultant breakage or tear. of the band.

It is a primary object, therefore, of this invention, to provide an improvement in connecting the end portions of a deckboard and a baseboard to the stringers to prevent premature parting and subsequent failure.

A still further object is to provide an improved wire tie connection. for connecting the ends" of stringers" to the deckboard. and baseboard=ofa= pallet to prevent premature breakage during handling. 7 L A still further object isto provide an improved pallet consisting of a deckboard and baseboard, each of which has stringers. connected thereto, the stringers being connected by means of clinched nails and the stringers being fastened in superposed relation to provide a space between the baseboard and deckboard which may accommodate the fork of a lift truck.

A still further object is to provide an improved wire tie for connecting the baseboard sections and deckboard sections of two pallet halves thereby providing a rigid,

and uniform assembled construction.

A still further object is the provision of an improved pallet construction consisting of two readily connectible pallet halves with improved wire tie means for connecting the said halves.

These and further objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved pallet construction having an improvedwire tie;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a corner portion of a pallet, the said'view'being taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detailelevational view of a wire tie showing its shape and condition prior to assembly with a pallet;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of I improved pallet;

2,931,610 a I Pat nted, A913 51.19%

" stantially along the line 8-8 of Figure 5; and

,Figure 9. is an end view of a corner portion of a pallet, the said view being taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 through 3, a pallet construction is generally designated by the refer ence character 10. The pallet construction 10 com.- prises essentially a base or baseboard 11 including baseboard sections 12. A platform or deckboard 13 comprises a plurality of deckboard sections 14, the sections 12 and 14 being maintained in laterally spaced relation by means of stringersv 15 extending transversely with respect to the sections 12 and 14. The stringers 15 project outwardly, as indicated at 16, beyond the outer edges of oppositely disposed outermost sections 12 and 14. All of the sections 12 and 14 are suitablyconnected to the stringers by nails 17. As particularly shown in Figure 1, the stringers serve to support the platform 13 with respect to the baseboard 11 and to provide a plurality of spaces which may accommodate the entry of the forks of a forlg type lift truck. The conventional pallet generally con? sists of the individual sections 12 and 14, but it is, of course, contemplated that the deckboard and baseboard may each be made on a single piece of material. The stringers 15 are generally made from 2 x 4 lumber.

It has been indicated above that the outermost sections 12 and 14, disposed at opposite ends of the pallet, must be very securely fastened to the stringers 15 since it is these outer sections which generally break loose from the stringers during use of the pallet. For this purpose, a novel wire tie means 18 is used, this wire tie 18 being shown in Figure 4, in its shape or condition prior to its attachment to. the pallet. The wire tie means is providedat opposite ends with loops 19. Referring now particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the wire tie means 18, in its use position, comprises a vertical portion 2!) which extends vertically and engages one side of a stringer 15 The vertical portion 20 also engages the outer'edges of theouter baseboard and deckboard sections 12 and 14, respectively. The wire tie means then also comprises two horizontal portions 21 which extend diagonally with respect to the stringer 15 and are connected to vertical end portions 22 which engage an opposite side of thestringer 15 as particularly indicated'in Figure 3. The wire is then twisted to provide a twist 23 and the loops 19 are effective to permit easy twisting by simply inserting a screw driver or similar tool which could be driven by power. By the twist 23, the wire tie means 18 is maintained in very taut relation and since the vertical portions 20 and vertical end portions 22 engage opposite sides of thestringer, a great amount of tension may be derived without possibility of slippage of the wire tie means 18 from the structure. Thus, it is apparent that the wire tie means 18 securely fastens the outermost sections to the stringers without the possibility of the wire tie means being ripped loose by the load which is placed upon the pallet, or by other devices utilized during handling. The wire tie means also being cylindrical prevents the possibility of edges being ripped upwardly as may be the case in flat strip ties, and danger during handling is precluded.

Figures 5 through 9 show a modified. form of'the invention. In this modification, the pallet construction is generally referred to by the reference character 46.

The pallet 40 comprises a base or baseboard 41, shown in Figure 7, consisting of a plurality of sections 42. The sections 42 are suitably connected to a plurality of stringers 43, the said stringers consisting of 2 x 2 lumber, rather than the 2 x 4 stringers which are described above. The sections 42 are suitably connected to the stringers 43 by means of clinched nails 44, the said clinchingas best shown in Figure 8 .providing a sound structurelwith the boards being solidly connected to the said stringers. The pallet 40 also includes a deckboard or platform 45 also consisting of a plurality of sections 46 as best shown in Figure 6. The sections 46 are connected to 2 x 2 stringers 47 by means of clinched nails 48, the said clinching also being shown particularly well in Figure 8. Thus, it is apparent that two separate assemblies have been described, namely, the deckboard assembly and the baseboard assembly. The baseboard assembly and the platform assembly are suitably connected together in assembled relation to'provide the completed pallet by means of nails 49 which are driven through the 2 x 2 stringers as indicated in Figure 8. It is also apparent here that the 2 x 2 stringers 43 and 47, which are positioned in superposed relation, project outwardly from opposite ends of the palletadjacent the outermost edges of the outer sections 42'and 46.

.4 the sections can be connected to the stringers by th clinched nails. This results in a much stronger assembly than if the nails are merely driven into 2 x 4 stringers as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, an advantage in the separable platform and baseboard assemblies is achieved in that they can'be more compactly shipped to outside sources or suppliers whereupon they can be readily assembled for return to their original point of shipment. In addition, if one of the components, either the deckboard or baseboard assembly becomes useless, it is not necessary to discard the whole assembly, but the good assembly can be utilized with other components.

Thus it can be seen that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved. Changes and improvements For the purpose of positively securing the outer sections to the stringers 43 and 47, a wire tie or strap 50 is provided. The wire tie or strap 50 is similar to the wire tie 18 above described. In the assembled condition, the wire tie or strap 50 comprises a vertical portion 51 which is disposed at one side of the projecting portions of the stringers 43 and 47 and engages'one side of the said stringers. The tie 50 also includes a pair of horizontal portions 52 which extend in diagonal relation, as best shown in Figure 5, over the upper surface and lower surface of the outer deckboard and baseboard sections. The wire tie 50 also includes vertical end portions 53 provided with loops 54, the said loops permitting the end portions 53 to be, easily twisted into the twist 55 as indicated. By providing the twist 55, the wire tie in the construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed or the scope thereof as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A pallet construction comprising a plurality of laterally spaced baseboard sections, a plurality of stringers connected to said baseboard sections and extending laterally with respect thereto, a plurality of deckboard sections connected to said stringers and with said baseboard sections providing a space adapted to accommodate the fork of a fork type lift truck, said stringers having opposite end portions projecting laterally outwardly with respect to outer edges of oppositely disposed outer baseboards and deckboards, wire tie means for connecting said outer deckboards and, baseboards to said stringers,

may be maintained in a taut condition and slippage of board assemblies, and by the use of the 2 x 2 stringers,

each wire tie means comprising a wire having an outer first portion disposed to one side of and engaging the projecting end portion on one side of one of said stringers, and engaging edges of said outer deckboards and baseboards, said wire including second portions extending over said outer deckboards and under said baseboards in relative diagonal and engaging relation, and end portions of said wire engaging an opposite second side of said stringer, and means connecting said end portions together to maintain said wires in taut relation.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 325,969 Redding Sept. 8, 1885' 1,328,328 Inwood ....Jan. 20, 1920 2,297,347 Cruickshank .l Sept. 29, 1942 2,371,878 Cruickshank Mar. 20, 1945 2,448,109 Michael Aug. 31, 1948 2,675,936 Ridge Apr. 20, 1954 

